The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is adding nine new hazardous waste sites that pose risks to human health and the environment to the National Priorities List of Superfund sites. Also, EPA is proposing to add 13 other sites to the list. Superfund is the federal program that investigates and cleans up the most [...]

Using aquatic microbes as their “canary-in-a-cage,” scientists from Ohio today reported that nanoparticles now being added to cosmetics, sunscreens, and hundreds of other personal care products may be harmful to the environment.
Their report was part of symposia that included almost two dozen papers at the 237th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society where [...]

A five-nation scientific team has published new evidence that even a slight rise in atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, one of the gases that drives global warming, affects the stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS). The massive WAIS covers the continent on the Pacific side of the Transantarctic Mountains. Any substantial melting of [...]

According to the EPA, the economic recovery plan signed by President Obama will create quality, sustainable jobs that will help protect our country’s public health and environment.
“Through the President’s stimulus package, green initiatives will play a significant role in powering economic recovery,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “EPA’s portion of the plan will create [...]

For the first time, the EPA is proposing to set emission limits for formaldehyde, benzene, acrolein and other air toxics from certain stationary diesel and gas-fired engines. In 2008, over 1 million of these engines generated electricity, powered equipment and operated during emergencies at industrial, agricultural and other facilities.
The new rule would only [...]

According to new research Children born in areas with increased traffic-related pollution may be at greater risk of developing asthm due to genetic changes acquired in the womb. The study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the University of Cincinnati (UC) is published in the journal PLoS ONE.
Researchers studied umbilical cord blood [...]

Will agency finally admit the chemical is a health risk.
In a stunning reversal, the an advisory panel of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) admitted that the agency was wrong in August when it said that bisphenol A (BPA) is not a health risk. BPA is a chemical used widely in plastic [...]

First of its king study looks at effect of greenness on inner city children’s weight over time.
Childhood obesity can lead to type 2 diabetes, asthma, hypertension, sleep apnea and emotional distress. Obese children and youth are likely to be obese as adults, experience more cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and stroke and incur higher healthcare [...]

Methylmercury (MeHg), the predominant form of mercury found in the blood of marine mammals and fish-eating communities, could be more damaging to seals than has previously been thought.
Research published in BioMed Central’s open access journal Environmental Health shows that MeHg harms T-lymphocytes, key cells in a seal’s immune system. Similar results were also found for [...]

A small step in the right direction which should be a total ban.
In a report in the Canadian official government newspaper the Canada Gazette, The Canadian government will move to limit sales of baby bottles made with the chemical bisphenol A
Canadian environment and health ministries concluded that “bisphenol A be considered as a toxic substance [...]